The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-07-21
Co-Education In Colleges.

The January number OF the Baptist
Quarterly has symposium on go
education in Colleges" to which three
college presidents, two college profles-
sors, and three normal-school princi-
pals have been invited. Substantially
the same points, pro and con, are CON
sidered by each Of the participants
The ability of women to sustain them
selves on a fair footing with men, in
the ordinary college course, seems now
to be conceded on both sides. Expe-
rience has settled this question beyond
a peradventure. So is the right Of
women to have thorough, collegiate
training, if they desire it, a generally
acknowledged one. 1t also seems to
be admitted that no serious danger to
the physical health of women is
threatened by the strain of competi-
tion with their brothers in the same
curriculum. For these and kindred
reasons, the argument that the stand
ard Of scholarship in the college course
will be lowered by the advent Of wo-
men is practically abandoned. Indeed
Professor Gilmore of Rochester Uni
versity, N. Y, and President Ander-
son OF Denison University, Ohio, in
this symposium, urge the beneficial
influence of women as a mental and
moral stimulus upon the young men
of college.
There yet remains, however, a
doubt in the minds of many, whether
something may not be lost of that in
definable charm OF gentle and graceful
womanhood by too close contact with
the sterner sex during the formative
period, and whether there be not a
certain period in the life of woman
when she at least is better fitted for
her domestic and social future by a
more distinctively womanly training
than our colleges can afford.
This side of the question is present
ed with some earnestness by Prof. N
l.. Andrews of Madison University
N. Y, and by Rev, DR.. J. R. Kendrick
lately acting president of Vassar Col
lege, Professor Andrews quotes from
cultured woman of large exper
ience as a student and teacher il
college," the significant remark that
"while masculine influence over femi
nine minds is most indispensable il
the process of education, it ought to be
exercised by the teacher chiefly
She declares that "co-education has
made American girls self-conscious
forthputtingy aggressive" that "lift
may wear away these undesirable
traits, but while they are in promi
nence the young woman loses more
than half the worth Of her education.
Upon this criticism Professor An
drews remarks: "When an educated
woman thus Judges, certainly a MAJ
may be pardoned if he thinks he find
in the graduates of women's colleges
certain indefnable charm not so Otter
found in those who have been educa
ted the other way. The elements o
this charm are, in part, certain sub
tie refnment, delicate reserve, an,
graceful Difference, qualities whicl
are entirely consistent with independ
ence Of judgment and poise of charaC
ter"
DIR. Kendrick, while admitting tn
practical success of co-education for
class of young women, and the right t
an opportunity for all who desire i
contends for reasons similar to thos
urged by Professor Andrews, tha
there is, and always will be, a place fc
the woman's college. To this claim
is probable that the other participant
in the symposium would make no oil
lection. Indeed, two of them, Pres
dent Angel of Ann Arbor, and Pr,
fessor Gilmore, expressly concede it,
, In other words, it appears that tn
whole coterie of educators who con
pose this symposium, including Pril
cipals T. ]. Morgan of Providence
Theo. H. Rand of Woodstock, Ontari
. and A. G.. Hill of Havana, n. Y, b
sides those already mentioned, thong
arrayed, six against two in defendir
their sides OF the shield, are practica
ly as one on the whole question. Nc
is it unlikely that they pretty fair
4 represent the present state of opinio
among educators. The main drift
; plainly toward co-education, As D
Morgan expresses it "If every &C
:, lege in America should be throw
= open to women upon precisely Il
. same terms as to men tomorrow, the
would be no shock to public opinio
no disturbance in social life, no alar
!. created. ."-Educdti0ndl Quarterly.